Project Part One Rough Draft Southern New Hampshire University

HUM200: Applied Humanities

Michael Briere

July 21, 2022

Project Part One Rough Draft

Cultural Artifacts

The first work to examine is that of Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), an influential Italian artist and scientist. Even though Da Vinci made significant contributions to other subjects, such as science, the “Mona Lisa” is his most well-known and successful work to date. The “Mona Lisa” painting was begun in 1503 and completed in 1517. It was executed in oil on panel. The “Mona Lisa” is among the most priceless works of art ever created. It is stored at the renowned Louvre. In the city of Paris, France. He stated, “His greatest triumph in combining art, science, physics, and imagination was the smile of the Mona Lisa, that he teamed up on in 1503 and completed 16 years before his death” (Isaacson, 2017). As with some of Da Vinci’s other works, this painting’s atmosphere is both enigmatic and tranquil.

The second work to examine is another work by the Dutch Baroque artist Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1668). Aristotle with a Bust of Homer is a 1653 oil painting on canvas titled “Aristotle with a Bust of Homer.” In the picture, the philosopher Aristotle contemplates Homer’s accomplishments. The picture itself emits a dark and enigmatic atmosphere. Earlier works by Rembrandt were typically humorous, but “Aristotle with a Bust of Homer’s” somber and cryptic tone likely stems from the difficult experiences he endured later in life. At the Metropolitan Museum of Modern art York, you may view Aristotle alongside Homer’s bust.

Common Theme

The theme of secularism is present both in “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci as well as “Aristotle with a Bust of Homer” by Rembrandt. Secularism is the belief that the people and government as a whole should exclude religion from their operations. Clearly, the subject of “Mona Lisa” is not divine or holy. The woman inside the painting, however, is being lauded in a manner that was once held for holy people due to the tendency of portraiture to be a touch excessive. “The smile of the Mona Lisa did not originate from a miracle. Rather, it was the culmination of years of labor and research by people who applied art and science to its creation” (Isaacson, 2017). Another secular subject is depicted in “Aristotle with a Bust of Homer.” Aristotle was a Greek theorist, and it was customary for Greek philosophers to be secular and to base their theories on reason and science. “Perhaps Rembrandt meant to demonstrate that he believed the power of art lay less in its ability to unveil the supernatural than in its opportunity to demonstrate us how restricted we are as human beings” (Deutsch Carroll, 1984).

Personal Experience

Numerous scholarly, humanitarian, and technological advancements demonstrate that secularism is alive and thriving in many sections of contemporary society. Religion shouldn’t play a significant role in American government or culture. I attended public schools for most of my life, and I have always observed a distinct separation of church and state. Students were allowed to hold any beliefs they wished, resulting in a more diversified and tolerant environment. In scientific & technology schools, we were taught that hands-on problem solving was preferable to hypothetical thinking for resolving societal issues.

Profession

Secularism has contributed to recent advancement in numerous ways. It’s the first known anatomical representation of a human grin, and it was inspired by Da Vinci’s obsession with Lisa (Isaacson, 2017). For ages, secularism has influenced the medical field, compelling many individuals, irrespective of religion, to adopt a realistic perspective on disease and illness. Accepting fact and avoiding fantasy, such as depending on religion or thinking that God can heal illness, has progressed medicine and enabled physicians to treat a variety of diseases. Humanities knowledge is crucial in medicine. The medical staff treats patients of many social, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. Humanities knowledge enables medical professionals to empathize with varied social circumstances. Adoption of contemporary medical practices, particularly Western medicine, may differ by social group.

Humanities Resources

The Shapiro Archive has “How Vinci Developed the Mona Lisa Smile” by Walter Isaacson. This source is excellent for study since it reveals how Da Vinci utilized his knowledge of bodily structures to create the intriguing smile on the Mona Lisa. Frank Zollner examines the historical context of Mona Lisa and how it affected Leonardo’s distinctive and enigmatic picture of her in “Leonardo’s Paint of Mona Lisa Del Giocondo.” This source discloses Lisa’s infant loss, that may have attributed to her despondent, lifeless appearance. In “Rembrandt’s Aristotelian: Exemplary Beholder,” Margaret Deutsch Carrol explores the historical background of Rembrandt’s works, including “Aristotle with a Bust of Homer.” This website describes what he depicted, why he portrayed it, and the various ways in which he illustrated it. Using the Shapiro Library’s search function and various search phrases, all sources were located.

Historical Context

Rembrandt created “Aristotle with a Bust of Homer” during in the Dutch Golden Age. Aristotle, a scientific hero of antiquity, is used to legitimize a developing European powerhouse. Mentioned is a significant Persian leader. Julius Held adds that Aristotle’s medallion depicts Alex the Great, whom he trained. Held can recognize the chain as a royal gift (Deutsch Carroll, 1984). During in the Italian Renaissance, painting concentrated on religious themes sponsored by the church. We might believe he engaged Lisa out of devotion, and this influenced his choice to marry Leonardo (Zollner, 1993). This painting is uncommon for its time because it concentrates on the commissioner’s wife.

Similarities and Differences

Both of my paintings from separate eras represent nonreligious people. All “Aristotle with a Bust of Homer” & “Mona Lisa” are devoid of divine inspiration, which was prevalent during both time periods. Aristotle with Homer’s Bust is a Dutch Renaissance masterpiece. Rembrandt depicted two ancient philosophers; Aristotelian was a Greek scholar and scientist who lived during a time when Christianity was less significant. This image ties contemporary knowledge to historical understanding. “Aristotle Beginning to consider the Statue of Homer contrasts with prior Flemish portrayals of comprehensive collections, which emphasize the owners' possessions rather than intellectual knowledge” (Deutsch Carroll, 1984). The subject in the Italian Renaissance painting “Mona Lisa” is glorified in a manner reminiscent of biblical figures, but she was merely the patron’s wife. In the 15th century, portraits of the middle class typically served a purpose (Zollner, 1993). At the time, the pretension of hired painting was problematic.

Medium

The picture “Aristotelian with a Statue of Homer” by Rembrandt is composed of oil painting. Rembrandt’s life in his later years was as gloomy as the artwork that resulted from the accumulation of paint. He demonstrates that he enjoys both Homer & Aristotle, but he does so with a great deal of skepticism. On the other side, “Mona Lisa” is likewise an oil on canvas painting on poplar, and it is presented in a more vibrant manner. This is probably due to the fact that the picture was purchased by a gentleman to express his affection for his wife. This is evident from the gentle characteristics of the lady’s head and the warm hues that dominate the artwork.

Thesis Statement

Even if they were created in distinct nations and at distinct intervals, the “Mona Lisa” & “Aristotle with a Slump of Homer” both demonstrate how art transformed as it shifted into the period of rationalism, which was an era in which the emphasis was placed on displaying as much information as possible in order to convey the intended meaning.

Audience

The individuals who would benefit the most from hearing me speak are those who have a difficult time comprehending artist, visual art, or ancient art. Because it is centered on a topic that the vast majority of people are able to grasp, realism is universally appealing.

Message

My presentation will be personalized to the audience by establishing a connection between the themes of realism in the two works and how we interpret contemporary art and the significance of realism in contemporary culture. I will show how these two foundational works contributed to the formation of philosophies based on materialism that favored rational reason over supernatural judgment. These philosophies placed greater emphasis on human reason than divine authority. I will conclude by establishing a connection between realism in contemporary culture and key historical events that have contributed to the evolution of civilization.

References

Carroll, M. (1984). Rembrandt’s “Aristotle”: Exemplary Beholder. Artibus Et Historiae, 5(10), 35-56. doi:10.2307/1483193

Isaacson, W. (2017). How Leonardo Made Mona Lisa Smile. Atlantic, 320(4), 50. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=125386252&site=eds-live&scope=site

Zollner, F. (1993). LEONARDO’S PORTRAIT OF MONA LISA DEL GIOCONDO. GazetteDes Beaux-Arts,121, 115-138. Retrieved September 26, 2018, from http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/artdok/4207/1/Zoellner_Leonardos_portrait_of_Mona_Lisa_1993.pdf